The Gunners chief is set to splash the cash this summer in an effort to improve his striking options, with the Bayern Munich and AC Milan forwards both interesting the Frenchman.

But ex-Highbury favourite Smith claims Wenger should forget about bad boy Balotelli because he brings too much baggage.

“Balotelli doesn’t strike me as an Arsene Wenger sort of player,” he told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show. “He’s someone who commands the headlines and there’s always something going on with him off the field.

“He’s a great player on his day but, for me, he doesn’t have enough of them. I just can’t see him at Arsenal.

“Wenger will be bringing in a striker this summer, hopefully a very good one. There are a few out there at the moment, just look at the likes of Mandzukic. But Balotelli? I don’t think so.”